Makarova among U.S. girls to reach Orange Bowl 3rd round

PLANTATION, Fla. – Christina Makarova was one of four American girls who advanced to the third round of the Orange Bowl International Tennis Championships 18s draw on Wednesday, and the 16-year old from San Diego seemingly has the talent, coaching and bloodlines to keep winning.

Makarova was one of nine players ranked in the top 20 in the world to play in the Orange Bowl 18s draw, including Americans Taylor Townsend (Stockbridge, Ga.), the world No. 1, and No. 18-ranked Chalena Scholl (Pompano Beach, Fla.). They, along with No. 11 Allie Kiick (Plantation, Fla.), all reached the third round with victories on Wednesday.

Perhaps Makarova has as good a chance as any of the four to become the third American in the last five years to capture the Orange Bowl girls 18s title, joining WTA Top 100 player Lauren Davis (2010) and former WTA Top 200 player Julia Boserup (2008).

Makarova’s mother and coach, Luda, was once the top-ranked player in Russia and has helped produce pros such as Marat Safin and Anna Kournikova. The Makarovas moved from Russia in the early 1990s amidst the breakup of the Soviet Union, initially stopping in Canada before settling in California.

Since then, Makarova has set her sights on playing professional tennis, and an Orange Bowl title, albeit difficult to achieve, wouldn’t set a bad precedent for a pro career.

"I mean, everybody in this tournament is good. It just depends on how good you play that day," Makarova said. "If I play well every day, I feel like I have a chance. You never know what’s going to happen."

Dennis Uspensky (Atlantic Beach, N.Y.) proved that on Wednesday, taking down No. 1 seed Ku Keon Kang of Korea in the boys' 16s draw, 6-4, 6-4. The No. 14 seed, Uspensky is one of five American boys to reach the 16s quarterfinals and will meet No. 8 William Blumberg (Greenwich, Conn.) on Thursday.

"The Orange Bowl is considered to be the world championships, and it shows that America is one of the top tennis countries in junior tennis, for sure, right now," Uspensky said. "So it’s great for everyone right now."

Eleven of the 12 seeded boys in the 18s draw won their second-round matches on Wednesday, including the top four seeds: Italy’s Gianluigi Quinzi; Portugal’s Frederico Ferreira Silva, Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka and Croatia’s Borna Coric, respectively.

All 14 of the girls' 18s seeds playing on Tuesday also advanced, including Townsend, who will meet No. 13 Katy Dunne of Great Britain on Thursday.

"Anytime someone’s on top, there’s a target. I try to focus on myself. I don’t try to focus on what people say and the pressure," Townsend said. "I just try to focus on one match at a time and try to focus on my game and what I’m supposed to be doing. Everything else will take care of itself."